Every good thing
we have or ever will have is a gift of love from our Heavenly Father. This
includes all the spiritual blessings He continually gives us.

*Every good and perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows. Ja 1:17
NIV+

*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in
Christ:Eph 1:3 ASV

Our Father’s
spiritual blessings include the greatest gift that has or will ever been given
to the world, eternal life in Heaven with our Savior. There are no earthly
riches one can exchange to have their sins forgiven, to become children of God,
to live in Paradise forever.

*For the wages of sin is death; but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Ro 6:23ASV

*What good
will it be for a man if he gains
the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?Matt 16:26 NIV+

Our God provides
us with the spiritual blessing of innermost peace as we struggle through our
earthly lives. When Jesus lives in our hearts, we become one with Him, our
Savior continually comforts us. His love removes all fear from our hearts as we
face the trials and troubles of this world.

*Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let
it be fearful. Jn
14:27 ASV

*Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exaltyou at the proper
time,casting all your anxiety on Him, because
He cares for you.1Pe 5:6-7 NASB+

Spiritual
blessings are the only possessions we can bring to Heaven. The only treasures
we can store away in our eternal home while we still live on earth.

*For we brought nothinginto this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1Ti 6:7 NKJV+

*"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.Matt 6:19-20 NKJV+

The greatest gift
we can give to anyone is to tell them about our great God, how much He loves us.
This life saving message of Christ’s saving grace is needed by all. Our prayers
are needed to bring unbelievers to Christ, to keep believers in Christ.

*How, then, can they call on the one they
have not believed in? And how can
they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear withoutsomeone preachingto them?
And how can they preachunless they are sent? As
it is written, "How beautiful are
the feet of those who bring good
news!"Ro
10:14-15 NIV+

*And pray
in the Spirit on all occasions with all
kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert
and always keep on prayingfor all the saints.Eph 6:18 NIV+

Our Heavenly
Father also gives us all of our physical needs necessary to survive in this
world, as we ask Him in prayer for food, clothing, shelter, and all of our
basic necessities.

*The eyesof all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.Ps
145:15 NIV+

*Give us this
day our daily bread.Matt 6:11 ASV – Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer taught us to ask
this of our Heavenly Father.

We should be
willing to work for these gifts of substance our Heavenly Father daily gives
us. So we can support ourselves, so we can help others. If we are unwilling to
work, neither should we eat.

*For even when we were with you, we
commanded you this: If anyone will not
work, neither shall he eat. For
we hear that there are some who walk
among you in a disorderly manner, not
working at all, but are busybodies.2Thes 3:10-11

*He who steals must steal no longer; but
rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will havesomething
to share with one who has need.Eph 4:28 NASB+

We should take care
of our own families, our parents, grandparents, and our relatives.

*But if any widow has children or grandchildren,
let them first learn to show piety
at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and
acceptable before God. 1Tim 5:4 NKJV+

*But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1Tim 5:8 NASB+

Our Heavenly
Father would have us love Him above all things, and then love other people as
we love ourselves. We should help others, as we would want to be helped if the
situation were reversed.Our
neighbor is anyone who needs our help, even our enemies.

*Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater
than these."Mk 12: 30-31
NIV+

We should give as
much as we are able, giving more when we have it, giving to the one who asks
us, who needs to borrow from us.

*"Give
to him who asks of you, and do not turn
away from him who wants to borrow from you.”Matt 5:42 NASB+

*And now, brothers, we want you to know
about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most
severe trial, their overflowing joy
and their extreme poverty welled up
in rich generosity. For I testify
that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely ontheir own,2Cor 8:1-3 NIV+

We should help
all, even the poorest, least important people in this world, for Jesus loves
all people. Giving to any is the same as giving something directly to Jesus.
Our Savior would also have us visit the sick, the elderly, those in the
hospital, those in jail, and any person who is lonely, who needs comforting.
Always helping those less fortunate then we are.

*And the King
will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch
as you didit to one of the least of
these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Matt 25:40 NKJV+

*for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I wasnaked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'Matt 25:35-37 NKJV+

Our Master would
also have us help children as they grow up. We should help parents when they
are unable to watch over their children. Help take care of children when they
have no parents, help all of our brothers and sisters in the world.

*Pure and undefiled
religion in the sight of our
God and Father is this: to visit orphans
and widowsin their distress,and to keep oneself unstained by the world.Ja 1:27 NASB+

*But whoever
has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does
the love of God abide in him?1Jn 3:17 NKJV+

We are to give out
of our love for our God, out of the love He has given us. Not reluctantly or
under compulsion, but cheerfully,
giving all we can give. Being satisfied with food and clothing, the essentials
we need for our life. Allowing the Spirit to help us balance out what we have,
what we need, what we should give others who need our help.

*Each man should give what he has decided
in his heart to give, not reluctantlyor under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerfulgiver. 2Cor 9:7
NIV+

*Now godliness
with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And
having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1Ti
6:6-8 NKJV+

Giving is not a
duty or requirement of the Lord, including the Old Covenant Law of tithing.
Anything not given out of love, out of faith to the Lord, is not acceptable to
Him. Our giving merely reflects the love we have in our hearts for our Savior.

*And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do nothave love, it profits me
nothing. 1 Cor 13:3 NASB+

*But without
faithit isimpossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and thatHe is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.Heb 11:6 NKJV+

*And this commandment we have from Him: that
he who loves Godmustlove his brother also.1Jn 4:21
NKJV+

It is not the
amount that you give, but how precious the gift is to the giver. The widow gave
but two small coins worth only a fraction of a penny, but Jesus said her gift
was greater than all others, even the rich who gave much larger amounts. For
she gave all she could give, she gave out of her poverty, she gave out of love
trusting the Lord to take care of her.

*… A poor widow came and put in two small
copper coins, which amount to a cent .Calling
His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widowput in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus
, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to
live on."Mk 12:41-44 NASB+

When we give we
should do it quietly, no one but the Lord needs to know, and the Lord will
graciously bless us.But any who desire
to be honored for personal recognition and gain, will only be rewarded with the
human praise they receive.

*"Take
heed that you do not do your
charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do
not sound a trumpet before you
as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable
deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”Matt 6:1-4 NKJV+

We should not give
because we expect to get something back. For what we are giving is but a
portion of what the Lord has already given us. For no one has ever given enough
to God, that God should pay them back.

*"Who has ever given to God, that God
should repay him?"Ro
11:35 NIV+

*useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness
is a means of gain. From
suchwithdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothingintothisworld,and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be
content.1Ti 6:5-8 NKJV+

Loving Jesus,
helping others, does not mean financial riches here on earth. Our Savior has
promised us far more valuable gifts. The spiritual gifts of love and peace
while we live here below. Blessings when we are taken to our eternal home in
Heaven.

*"But love your enemies, and do good,
and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great,
and you will besonsof the Most High; for He Himself
is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Lk 6:35 NASB+

*…"But when you give a reception , invitethepoor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind,and
you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you
will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Lk14:12-14 NASB+

*Jesus said to him, "If you want to be
perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you willhave treasure
in heaven; and come, follow Me." Matt 19:21 NKJV+

Our Father also
gives all the rest of our physical possessions, both those needed for our
business, our work, and those we have for our comfort, our pleasure.

*Moreover, when God gives any man wealth
and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.Eccl 5:19 NIV+

*The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world,
and those who dwell in it. Ps
24:1 NASB+

We must be very
careful about the lusts money provides, of what money can buy. Believing our
abilities give us what we have, instead of being thankful for being thankful
for what the Lord has given us, being content with His gifts. Earthly riches to
often pull us away from our greatest treasures, spiritual blessings laid away
in Heaven. For when we give to others our Lord gives us blessings in Heaven
that will never end, never be taken away.

*But those
who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and intomany foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of allkinds ofevil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.1 Tim 6:6-10 NKJV+

* Do not
fear, little flock, for it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell
what you have and give alms; provide
yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that
does not fail, where no thief
approaches nor moth destroys. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Lk 12:32-34 NKJV+

Life for Christians is not meant to be an abundance of possessions, but
an abundance of love. Love for our God, love for our fellow man. Remembering
our Father will give earthly possessions to both believers and unbelievers,
including those who do evil.

*And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man's life consistethnot in the abundance of
the things which he possesseth. Lk 12:15
KJV+

*That ye may be the children of your Father
which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun
to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust.Matt 5:45
KJV+

We should always know
where and how our gifts, our offerings, are used. We should make sure our local
gifts are used wisely, conservatively. What good are congregational buildings
that stretch to the sky, when daily so many thousands from starvation die? Mission outreach programs should give 90% of the money to
assist the needy, while keeping administration and other costs to 10%. The
outreach should also be spiritual, bringing the Word of God, telling all about
Jesus. It is more important to save the soul than the body. Use www.ecfa.org or www.charitynavigator.org
to determine how participating outreach programs compare.

*do not merelylook out for your
own personal interests, but also for the interests
of others.Phil 2:4NASB+

*Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1Co
10:24 NIV+

In
closing we should always remember a few things:

The
greatest gifts our God gives us are not physical, but spiritual gifts. Jesus
freely gave His life for the atonement of our sins. The Spirit gives us the
truth, the ability to believe in our God, when we give up our human will. And
the Father makes all who love Him more than anything else, His children, freely
gives us eternal life in Heaven. There are no greater gifts than these.

*For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Eph 2:8 NIV+

We
all have something to give, no matter what our status in life. We can all
proclaim the good news of the Gospel to all. We can be unhappy about our
situation, about the situation of the world. Yet we can always rejoice for we
know Jesus will take care of us. Christians can be poor. Yet we can make many rich
by telling them about our God, His gift of eternal life in Heaven. We may have
nothing in this physical world. Yet when we know about our God, receive His
love, we possess everything we will every need.

*as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; as poor,
yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yetpossessing all things.2Co 6:10 ASV

Our Lord would
have us treat people, the same way we would want to be treated. If you did not
know about Jesus, would you not want someone to tell you about Him, before you
died, before you went to Hell? If you were looking into the eyes of your child
starving to death, would you not expect, would you not want another Christian
to give you the food that is needed to keep your child alive? Everyday in
everything we do we should always think do we really need all the possessions
we have, all the pleasures we fancy ourselves with? More than all the less
fortunate who have little to nothing, are sick, are starving? From the excesses
of the fancy houses we live in, to the food and drink we indulge ourselves in,
to the vanity of how we feel we must look, does the Spirit ever stir our souls?
Wondering about the number of people we could save if we didn’t need that fancy
suit and tie, if we did not need the long fingernails and pedicures? For $15
dollars a child can be kept from starvation for another month, can be told
about Jesus. Until we reach the point where every gift God gives us we think in
our hearts, how can we best utilize this to the glory of our God?

*"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them
to treat you, for this is the Law
and the Prophets. Matt 7:12 NASB+

We should always
remember to put others before ourselves, humbly trying to help all. Always
remembering, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

*In all things I gave you an example, that so
laboring ye ought to help the weak,
and to remember the words of the LordJesus,
that he himself said, It is more blessed
to give than to receiveActs 20:35 ASV